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Wednesday, 25 September 2013

‘Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme’ (SEIS) and ‘Enterprise Investment Scheme’ (EIS) are a series of EU regulated initiatives aimed at incentivising investment into start-up ventures, through numerous tax breaks and other benefits.

On Tuesday 17th September, Sue Crawford and Adrian Jones of Wiggin LLP held a fascinating on SEIS/EIS financing initiatives. They explained the key aspects of both schemes, and highlighted basic requirements and key watch outs for any investor looking to use these types of funding. The pitfalls discussed were a particularly insightful aspect of the presentation with a large emphasis placed on share consideration and the requirement of full written documentation tracking cash payment of shares. The investors’ ‘exit’ should also be tempered with caution; the start of the trade is considered as the day any shares are issued by the company.

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Due to some exciting
new partnerships and sponsors supporting the Tech Trailblazers Awards the entry
deadline has been extended to the 26th September 2013.

As a result
of some major new partners coming on board, we are offering entrants a
collective prize pot (worth an estimated $50,000), that includes products and
services to help startups with the new business and networking, PR and
marketing, mentoring and investment tools that they need for success.

Saturday, 14 September 2013

In any business, it is important to manage and mitigate risks and that is even more apparent for start-ups looking to grow and build towards a point where they can exit; it is a fight to the finish. Start-ups must use all the resources available to them including grants and investor networks combined with a thorough strategic plan right to the exit stage. Last nights’ event (#LegallyFunded), which was organised by NaviStar Legal, had specialist guest speakers in each of these fields who shared a lot of insight. Attendees questioned said they got a better understanding of these crucial aspects as well as how to create a roadmap to success.

Friday, 6 September 2013

We had a record period. In the last month, we signed letters of engagements with three (yes 3) new clients for advisory mandates. This is up from an average of 1 new advisory mandate every 6-8 weeks. We would like to thank a media company, a Spanish company, and a private wealth entrepreneur who each entrusted us with nurturing their projects with business planning, market entry and feasibility assessment reports respectively.

Monday, 2 September 2013

This morning I received a recommendation from a business associate that put a smile on my face. I advocate candid feedback from individuals and entities that one has come into contact with. Whether complimentary or otherwise, I strongly believe such information is an asset. The recipient can then decide if to use, bin or reframe this, thereby adding to ones' knowledge of self - more precisely, ones' knowledge of external perception of oneself.